Breech-loading firearm.



No; 645,350. Patented Ian. 30, 1900'. M. G. E. E. MATURIE.

BREECH LOADING FIREARM.

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No. 642,350. Patented Jan. 30, I900. M. G. E. E. MATURIE.

BBEECH LUADING FIREARM.

(Application filed. June 1, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES FATENT @rrrctz.

MARIE GASTON EMILE EDGARD MATURIE, OF ANGERS, FRANCE.

BREECH -LOADING FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,350, dated January 30, 1906. Application filed June 1,1898. Serial No. 682,264. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

I Be it known that I, MARIE GASTON EMILE EDGARD MATURIE, of 27 Quai Ligny, in the city of Angers, Maine and Loire, Republic of France, have invented Improvements in Breech-Loading Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The introduction of the new gunpowders has so completely changed the internal ballistic conditions that firearms provided with even the best of barrels are liable to burst. Only a special kind of steel is capable of resisting these powders. Moreover, drop-action guns are unable to withstand these new powders and soon become defective. With a view to obviate these disadvantages I make double barrels with their breech-block chambers in one single block of mild steel, the breech mechanism being of the drop-block system and being modified so as to admit of this kind of breech-closure being used for double barrels, the whole constituting a new system of firearm.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section taken through the axis of the left-hand barrel. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken between the two barrels with the pull-down lever lowered. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 show details. Fig. 8 is a side view, and Fig. 9 a plan, of the firearm. Fig. 10 shows a separate face and edge view of a tumbler and striker.

The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

Each breech-closing mechanism comprises a drop-down block A, striker-pin B, tumbler O, sear D, trigger E, and their usual adjuncts, a single pull-down lever F common to the two breech-blocks, an extractor G, and an indicator H.

The two breech-closing blocks A are operated simultaneously by the same lever F, and their mechanisms are exactly alike. The two barrels b b and the breech-block chambers c c,with their division-plate a,are formed in one piece of mild steel. Beneath the barrels is a recess 1 to receive the spring and stem of the extractor G, which is itself received in a recess between the barrels, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The breech-block chambers are closed at bottom by a plate 2, secured by a nib 3 and screw 4. The breech-block chambers are closed at their rear ends by the part 5 of the tailpiece I, Fig. 7, the two being separably connected by the engagement of the former in a notch 6 and by a bolt J traversing the breech-block chambers and engaging in a notch 7 in the part 5 of the tailpiece. At each side of part 5 are pivoted the indicators H for showing whether the barrels have been fired, the sears D, and triggers E. The breechclosing blocks A are pivoted on a cross-pin 9, passing through the cheeks c and divisionplate a of the breech-chambers, the abutment of the hinge-knuckles in rear of the hinge-pin assisting to support the blocks A against the force of the recoil. The breechblocks are held up by the abutment at 10 against the ends of the forked arm 9 of the pull-down lever. The breech-blocks are longitudinally chambered for the reception of the firing-pinB and its springj and at the rear end have a lug h, which is engaged by the arm g of the lever F for the purpose of pulling down the breech-block. The pull-down lever F has two forked arms gfor supporting and operating the drop-blocksA of both barrels at once. The lever F is pivoted on the cross-pin 11 and is formed with a shoulder cl, Figs. land 2, for cooking the tumblers C and so compressing the striker-springs j. The central notch 9 between the forked arms 9 of lever F gives passage to the extractor-rod K and allows the arms 9 to engage with the cross-pin K for the purpose of operating the extractor, as shown in Fig. 2. The tumblers C, Fig. 10, also pivoted on pin 11, are received between the limbs of the arms 9 9. Each has a notchffor engagement with the nosef of the sear D in cooking, (see Fig. 1,) a spur 1- for acting on the indicator-levers H, a shoulder e, which is engaged by the shoulder cl of the lever F in cocking, and an arm 12, which engages in a slot in the striker B for the purpose of drawing back the latter and compress ing spring j, a safety-notch 13 for a safetybolt S, Figs. 1 and 2, and another similar notch 14 to receive the same bolt S when the one barrel has been fired.

The extractor G (shown in Fig. 5) serves for both barrels and is provided with anotch K, in which is pivoted the extractor-rod K, and a notch at top, which slides on the lower edge of the partition a, separating the two breech-chambers. The extractor is provided with a guide-stem p, spring 3, and nut 16, which also serves as a guide for the stem by sliding inchamber 1.

The sears D are pivoted at 17 upon the part 5 of tailpiece I, and their springs 18 abut at 19 against the tailpiece I. The triggers E are pivoted to the breech-tailpiece I at 20, and they bear at their heel end against the arms D of the sears D. The indicators H are pivoted at 22 and have pins 23, which project backward over the top of the tailpiece when the gunis cooked and are retracted by their spring 24 after firing. The bolt J for locking the breech-chambers and tailpiece together and the safety-bolt S are both' formed of a cylindrical shank having a flat and are each operated by a thumb-lever.

Action of the mechanism: Supposing both barrels to have been fired, as shown in Fig. 1, by turning the lever F downward into the position shown in Fig. 2 its shoulder d will strike the shoulder e of tumblers O and turn the latter backward, and as their arms 12 are engaged in strikers B the latter will be drawn back and theirsprings j compressed, the parts being somaintained by the engagement in the notch f, the spur r of each tumbler at same time forcingout the indicator H and causing it to, protrude over the tailpiece behind the breech-block joint. At the same time the arms 9 engage with the lugs h of the blocks A and draw the latter downward, as shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the innerlimbs of the two forked arms, Figs. 2 and 4, of the lever F after a certain amount of lost motion strike the pin K, thereby operating the extractor G, the pivotal connection at'K of the extractor-rod K allowing it to rest in the notch 9, Fig. 4, during this angular movement of the lever, while admitting of the rectilinear movement of the extractor. The breech-bloeks A being by this means drawn down to the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, the operation of the extractor is unobstructed, and when after the empty cases have been expelled the leverF is let go in order to insert fresh cartridges it springs back again a little and the blocks rise-a little to the full-line position shown in Fig. 2 under the pressure of the springs j, during which time the extractor G is returned by its spring 5, so that fresh cartridges can be placed in the barrels without having to push in the extractor. The breech is then closed, as shown in Fig. 1, by returning the lever F to position until it abuts at m against the under side of the tailpiece I. If the lever F is pulled down smartly, the spent-cartridge cases are ejected. Otherwise they are merely withdrawn into the troughs of the breech-blocks.

The extractor G is guided both by the partition a, which separates the breech-block chambers at theupper part, and also by means of itsstem p and its nut 16, so that its movement is rectilinear, as required for sportingcartridges, having a very small flange at the base, so as to insure the engagement of the extractor therewith.

In order to disconnect the breech-block chambers from the tailpiece, it is only necessary to turn the bolt J so as to bring its half-round portion out of engagement with the notch 7, and thus separate the barrels from the stock for convenience of placing the gun in its case. The indicators H, owing to their projecting well in rear of the breech-block chambers, clearly show when the firearm is cooked. The safety-bolt Sis operated by a thumb-lever at the opposite-sideto that of bolt J, and when in use its half-round portion engages in the correspondingnotch 13 of each tumbler if cooked or in notch 14 if uncooked, thus completely looking it. \Vhen the bolt is turned so as to bring its flat toward the tumbler, as in Fig. 1, the'latter is free.

The gun may be made of any caliber and.

the barrels may be either parallel or converge, as usual.

I claim 1. The combination of a double barrel and drop-block chambers the front walls of which are made integral with said double barrel, the said barrels being formed integral with a dividing-partition, separate drop-blocks to each side of said dividing-partition and dropblock breech closing mechanism substantially as shown and described. I V

2. In a firearm, the combinationof adouble barrel, a drop-block chamber, the front Walls of which are integral with said double barrel, two separate and independent breech-closing drop-blocks, striker-pins carried by each of said blocks, of a single lever engaging with both of said blocks at the under side thereof and adapted to cooperate with suitable means to set the striker-pins when the leveris moved to operate the drop-blocks, as described.

3. In a firearm, the combination of a single extractor for the two barrels fitted to slide in a straight line and provided with a guidestem and return-spring and having jointed thereto a rod disconnected from but adapted to be engaged by the breech-block-operating lever, breech-blocks operated by said lever, the parts being so arranged that there is sufficient lost motion between the said lever and its point of engagement with the extractorrod that the extractor will only be operated when the breech-blocks have been lowered and by the drawing down of the lever beyond the loading position of the breech-blocks.

. 4. In a firearm, the combination of two separate breech-blocks, a single lever for moving said breech-blocks, striker-pins which are adapted to be set by the breech-lever, and a single extractor for both barrels controlled by said lever, the parts being so arranged that the extractor will be automatically permitted to return to the normal position before the be retracted by springs when the gun is fired,

breech-blocks are moved to the firing position.

5. In a firearm, the combination of two separate drop breech-blocks, striker-pins carried 5 by the blocks, a single lever adapted to operate both of said blocks and to simultaneously set the striker-pins, a separate indicator adapted to be projected in rear of the breech-block chambers by spurs on the tumblers When the 10 lever is moved to set the striker-pins and to substantially as described.

The foregoing specification of my improve ments in sportinguns signed by me this 20th day of May, 1898.

MARIE GASTON EMILE EDGARD MATURIE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MAcLEAN, .MAURIOE HENRI SIGNET. 

